MINI Crossover Opens its Boot
Over the last year we’ve been reporting that the new MINI Countryman crossover vehicle would feature a standard hatch similar to the R56 design. And during that time MINI has been continuously taping what looks to be rear door handles that mimic the Clubman’s “club” doors. Nevermind that they are usually crooked, they have fooled much of the automotive press over the past year (and a few MF readers). But as you see above courtesy of automotivetraveler.com, the secret is now out.
Look for our special report on the Crossover next week.
<p>Does that special report come with pictures from an unnamed source?</p>
<p>This is a four door correct? (plus the mini cooper like back hatch”)</p>
<p>Cool pic! Interesting that is changed to a hatch from the weird swinging version the concept showed.</p>
<p>However, for me, the bigger questions are:
1- What about the driver’s side rear door? Cannot believe that they will leave in the sliding door. Figure it will be a standard door.
2 – What about the roof?</p>
<p>a sliding roof? nobody ever promised a sliding roof.</p>
<p>Yes Danny, four door with a hatch</p>
<p>I would love to know the height of the person in the picture. The angle of the shot is not the most flattering angle of the R60. Reminds me a little bit of the Chinese knock off Mini a while back.</p>
<p>I would’ve liked this with two doors on the back instead of a hatch but I guess till this thing gets popular, they’re probably constructing this in the most economic way as possible. I do wonder if the back doors will be four regular hinge doors or sliding doors like the concept version. Oh wait I can actually see that’s not going to be a sliding door by looking closely on the lines. They better add a better looking spoiler to this cuz that current one looks boring. For some reason, I’m feeling like there’s going to be a window where the C pillar is… I might be wrong.</p>
<p>Oh and with the RAV4 behind on one of the photos, it looks like it’ll be the same size. Oh, just read that site again, Countryman is slightly shorter.</p>
<p>Please tell me those tail light lenses are additional cammo and will not survive to the official rollout…</p>
<p>Now we need a photoshop guru to clean this pic up so we can see it without the camo :-)</p>
<p>A hatch door is whatbthe Clubby should have had!</p>
<p>I am almost afraid to see what this car will eventually look like. But thanks MINI for keeping the barn doors unique to the Clubman.</p>
<p>Countryman = Epic fail</p>
<p>Personal Opinion,</p>
<p>Stupid car, should ov left it as a concept.
BMW are ruining the mini brand and taken the fun out of it.</p>
<p>Curious…what’s to become of the Clubman once this thing hits the streets?</p>
<p>Obviously th eR60 design will still be much nicer but rather laughing with the similarities with the Lifan 3 Chinese knock-off.</p>
<p>Rather odd knowing that even though they obviously stole (and beat with a ugly stick) the Mini design that they have their 4 door hatch back crossover to market well before Mini did. So even though they stole the Mini design they beat Mini to market.</p>
<p>Could just be me but more than a few similarities</p>
<p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/R5TKZ_xltXI/AAAAAAAAhEY/GlMtyGFTQCo/s1600-h/MINI_Clone_6.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc">http://bp2.blogger.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/R5TKZ_xltXI/AAAAAAAAhEY/GlMtyGFTQCo/s1600-h/MINI_Clone_6.jpg</a></p>
<p>Hey, Pete, good question on the Clubman (any rumors Gabe?). I see C4 has a new handle. Not seeing failure in this – particularly since this will be built on its own dedicated assembly line (high production numbers expected??). I’m guessing BMW did its homework on projected sales. I know my local MINI dealer already has a waiting-list-to-be-on-the-waiting-list for these, and all the SA’s there are pumped. They see this as way outselling all the other MINI models. My former SA says he could triple his sales if he had these available.</p>
<p>Hatch? Boring. I wanted to see a split door, with glass going up, and tailgate coming down. I was hoping that each model in the lineup would have unique rear door mechanics.</p>
<p>Oh well.</p>
<p>Not sure why all the hate for the Clubman’s barn rear doors. I think the barn doors are far superior to a pull-down hatch for the way most people use the cargo area of a MINI. I would have preferred to see barn doors on the R60, it would further set the vehicle apart from the other CUVs cluttering our roadways – and it would work with the “Countryman” name. Chad’s recommendation of split “tailgate” would have been an excellent design choice as well plus allow driving with tailgate up but rear glass down for ventilation or safely carrying long loads. Anything is better than a huge hatch that you have to reach up to pull down (a pain on tall vehicles like CUVs / SUVs) – powered hatches on CUVs/SUVs are even more of a PITA as they close and open SO SLOWLY…</p>
<p>While not a big fan of any SAV/SUV/etc I’ll reserve final judgment until I see it without the vinyl covering. However, I do like the styling of the X1 and I’m wondering how much size difference there is between the BMW X1 and the MINI Countryman.</p>
<p>It’s too bad they will not have the barn doors. I know its been said all along here on MF that this was going to be a hatch, but I was still holding out hope. As someone who counts themselves in the potential buyer category for an R60….I would prefer the barn doors.</p>
<p>Anything that MINI can do to separate this car from the rest of the market in form or function is a good thing.</p>
<p>I agree with goat and dr. In real world use the club doors are great! Much easier to deal with then a giant hatch, especially when one hauls dogs in the car like I do. I was potentially interested in the R60, but will stick with the Clubman and the club doors.</p>
<p>Jim</p>
<p>A tail-gate that folds down and a glass hatch that flips up would have been the most useful.</p>
<p>All things being equal, if the club doors are such a big preference for some folks, I think this may be a strategic move by MINI to help keep Clubman sales alive. I figure most consumers would go for a true foor door if it’s offered, vs. a two door with an extra half door (which is on the wrong side for those in RHD cars). But that’s where the hatch vs. barn doors come in, the overall size and weight of the car, etc. Otherwise, if the R60 came with barn doors, would the Clubman still sell?</p>
<p>I’ve had a regular hatch before, and I think the smaller barn doors on my Clubman are much more convenient, and I usually only need to open one of them. I wish however that the interior light was on the right side (or both sides) instead of only the left, since I keep my gym bag on the left side and it blocks all the light.</p>
<p>Also, I’ve never liked 4-door cars because the front doors/windows are always smaller than a 2-door, and the side pillar is usually right next to your head, and I really like the large “frameless†front windows on my Clubman.</p>
<p>Although it may be the camo, it looks like the Countryman also has bulky window frames on all 4 doors making the windows even smaller. And the photo of the passenger window is confusing since the opening appears really small and doesn’t match with the door frame camo.</p>